Winner

• Axopar – x Agapi Boat Club

Judges’ summary – Axopar invented a completely new genre in less than a decade with its adventure boats. Many in the industry didn’t understand the launch concept at first – but customers did and demand has been exceptional. Axopar’s strong partnership with an existing boat club is the logical next step, making its market desirable products accessible not just for owners but also experience-seeking boat users wanting lower capital commitment.

Finalists

• RAND Boats – in partnership with GoBoat Connect
• TYDE – The Icon

Winner

• HH Catamarans – HH44

Judges’ summary – it’s hard to create new niche markets in an already busy arena but HH Catamarans is doing just that with its high-performance sailing catamarans. The HH44 brings the company’s genre of fast and comfortable cruising down to its lowest yet size but also incorporating solar power and hybrid propulsion as standard. A strong order book ahead of launch testifies to this being a truly breakthrough launch.

Honourable Mentions

• Prestige Yachts – M-Line
• Sunseeker International – Superhawk 55

Finalist

• TYDE – The Icon

Winner

• Nautique Boat Company and Scanstrut – magnetic charger for 2024 ski boats

Judges’ summary – Nautique challenged Scanstrut to provide automotive style convenience for mobile phones within a secure magnetic holder integrated into the dynamic and exposed environment of an open ski boat cockpit. After research and testing through 10 iterations Scanstrut produced a highly complementary and effective solution for Nautique’s Helm Command Centre that adds obvious appeal for any would-be purchaser.

Honourable mention

• Highfield Boatsand Zerojet –EJET 330 electric RIB

Finalist

• Princess Yachts, Whisper Power and Sleipner – X80 and Y80 E2 Hotel Battery Pack

Winner

• CRN, RINA Services and Weichai-Ballard – SUP-Y: Sustainable Powered Yacht

Judges’ summary – This collaboration with fuel cell specialists Weichai-Ballard and certification and quality assurance specialist RINA has provided CRN with authenticated sustainable power architecture for its future superyacht builds. At a time when the environmental credentials of the larger yacht sector are being challenged, objective and quantifiable improvements are a welcome development.

Finalist

• BSS and Lürssen – HISAC

Winner

• TYDE – The Icon – glazing, flight control, digital helm, safety features and sound system

Judges’ summary – the judges admired the developments demonstrated by each of the finalists. However, we could not escape from the fact that The Icon has thrown away the rule book and innovated multiple features that will surely influence thinking about what a leisure focused boat can be. We praised its glazing, flight control, digital helm, safety features and sound system but this award is also for the innovative impact of the whole boat.

Finalists

• Artemis Technologies – eFoiler – foiling pilot boat
• Ferretti Yachts – INFYNITO 90 – All-Season Terrace, main deck layout, country kitchen and FSEA technology
• HH Catamarans – HH44 – Eco-drive system
• Sunseeker International – Superhawk 55 – aft deck and helm layout

Winner

• Beneteau Group – recycling fibres into new builds

Judges’ summary – all three finalists are tackling important environmental challenges for the marine sector. However, the judges decided to award the win to the Beneteau Group for its collaboration with Composite Recycling and Chomarat because it provides an answer to one of the largest issues of all – creating a viable second use option within the industry for the millions of GRP hulls manufactured in the last 60 years.

Finalists

• Amer Yachts – Go Slowly campaign
• Azimut| BenettiGroup – adoption of biofuel

Winner

• IMPACD Boats – IMPACD 570

Judges’ summary – IMPACD Boats made it to the finalist stage of this category in 2022 and we’ve watched their progress since as they have taken 3D printed boats into mainstream production and sales. The 570 is IMPACD’s sixth highly practical model, trailblazing the potential for additive manufacturing. Well researched sustainable practices are embedded in this start-up’s activities, making it our stand-out choice this year.

Finalists

• Saffier Yachts – Saffier Se 24 Lite
• SunreefYachts – 80 Sunreef Power ECO

Winner

• Christian Gott – Fairline Yachts

Judges’ summary – The valuable work of all finalists was keenly debated by the judges. Our final decision was influenced by our winner’s rise through the ranks of Fairline. In 14 years, he progressed from a boatbuilder apprentice who studied for a design degree on his own initiative to being appointed as Lead Concept Designer. He is now responsible for styling the company’s latest launches – including the impressive Squadron 58.

Finalists

• Carl Kai Rand – Rand Boats
• Designworks, J&J Design and Tobias Hoffritz, TYDE – collaborators on TYDE The Icon
• James Hakes – HH Catamarans

Winner

• Collaboration with MIA / BIA / SYA  – Marine Jobs Initiative

Judges’ summary – the judges were very impressed by the efforts of all three finalists here and the decision was difficult. However the Australian Marine Jobs Initiative was unanimously decided to be the winner this year. It is a very comprehensive, multi-layered programme that tackles the development, retention and recruitment of skills in an engaging way that also really sells the advantages of a career in the marine sector.

Finalists

• British Marine – People & Skills programme
• Sunseeker International – Sunseeker Skills Academy

This category celebrates those aged 35 or under, working for a boat builder, making a growing impact on any aspect of their business. The judges’ pick of the global industry’s young talent will be revealed on the evening.

Winners

• Josie Maher – Edencraft
• Žiga Jarc – EJET

Judges’ summary – This year’s shortlist of boat building professionals aged 35 and under once again featured an impressive array of super talented people that deserve the recognition and the encouragement of everyone gathered here. In the end we selected two people as our Rising Stars for 2023. Žiga Jarc is the founder and CEO of innovative electric jet tender start-up EJET who has driven a remarkable amount of progress in a short time. Josie Maher has, in the words of her nominee, left an indelible mark since being appointed as the general manager of well-established Australian performance trailer boat manufacturer Edencraft.In their relatively short careers, both of our recipients have demonstrated amazing potential and continue to really make a difference in their respective businesses.

Presented to:

• Massimo Perotti­– Sanlorenzo

Judges’ summary – the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement award can claim two firsts – he is the youngest person so far to achieve this accolade and the only person to have achieved this status following a career spanning two separate boat building companies.

Our recipient rose rapidly through the ranks of Azimut to become its CEO in just 12 years, aged 36. Eight years later, after driving significant expansion in that business he left to take a majority stake in Sanlorenzo as its CEO and subsequently, its chairman. Under his tenure Sanlorenzo has grown its turnover from €42 million in 2004 to €740 million in 2022 and numbers of among the leading global builders of motor yachts and superyachts today.

Massimo Perotti has made major contributions not only to the companies he has led but also his national marine industry. He continues to drive Sanlorenzo’s innovative product development today and the judges were unanimous in their decision that he should be named this year’s Lifetime Achievement recipient, joining the Boat Builder Awards’ roll call of industry greats.

The awards evening culminates with the much-anticipated Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in the previous eight years to:

• Paolo Vitelli­– Azimut Benetti
• Robert Braithwaite, CBE – Sunseeker International
• David King­­­– Princess Yachts
• Annette Roux – Beneteau Group
• Robert T Healey Sr and William J Healey – Viking Yachts
• Christoph Rassy – Hallberg-Rassy
• Leon Slikkers – Slickcraft, S2, Tiara and Pursuit
• John Lu – Horizon Yachts